Yellow-bellied Waxbill

A long- and stiff-tailed bird with primarily rusty-brown upperparts and dull orangish underparts. The head, mantle, and neck region are a dull, sooty black. The long graduated tail is pale gray with a wide black terminal band. Note the conspicuous silvery-gray, white, and black patterns on the wings. The blackish-gray bill is stout with a hooked tip. Found in a wide range of habitats from woodlands to scrubby patches, singly or in pairs feeding in the treetops. The call is a loud metallic “krowwiiii kroo.”

A colorful lovebird of East African savanna that is also found in woodland, cultivated areas, and around human habitation. Note the green back, the broad yellow collar, the black face, and the red bill. The flight is fast and direct, on twitching wingbeats. Often found in flocks. Similar to Fischer’s Lovebird, but easily separated by the black rather than orange head. However, hybrids showing a mix of the two species’ traits are now common, especially in Kenya and along the coast. The common calls are a scratchy “sveet” and high-pitched squeals. 

Medium-sized tanager found in the canopy of humid forests where it normally associates with mixed-species flocks. Males are mostly black with an orange-red crest and chin. They have a small white spot on the shoulder and a buffy rump. Females are uniformly olive-brown. Several subspecies vary in the color of the male’s crest, chin, and rump. The song is a fast and high-pitched series of “tsee” notes.